Post construction for basketball backboards



United States Patent- [72] Inventor Russell D. Dickinson 6905 New York Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50322 [21] Appl. No. 741,971 [22] Filed July 2, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 1, 1970 [54] POST CONSTRUCTION FOR BASKETBALL BACKBOARDS 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 273/1.5, 52/40, 52/726, 52/297 [51] Int. Cl A63b 67/04 [50] Field olSearch 273/1.5; 248/159, 161; 240/84; 52/27, 40, 726, (inquired) 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 396,321 1/1889 Baird 248/159X 1,079,681 11/1913 Wintroath 265/404X 1,567,301 12/1925 Ross 52/40 2,110,101 3/1938 Weber. 52/40X 2,932,511 4/1960 Bemis 273/1.5

' 3,025,058 3/1962 Brumfield 248/161X 3,233,898 2/1966 Sheets et a1 273/1.5 FORElGN PATENTS 693,708 1964 Canada 52/726 35,365 1965 Finland 52/726 103,969 1924 Sweden 52/726 ;'Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro jAttorney-Zarley, Mc Kee & Thomte over the top post member is height-adjustable since any desired number of post members can be used. Adjustable brace rods extend between the backboard and the uppermost member.

Patented Dec. 1, 1970 I Shoot jaw POST CONSTRUCTION FOR BASKETBALL BACKBOARDS The conventionally available standard for basketball backboards and standards for other uses are normally one piece construction and thus have a single length designed for a particular use. Further once the standard is installed and anchored to the ground it is impossible to remove the standard without removing the anchor.

The extendable standard of this invention makes it possible to selectively vary the height of the basketball backboard. For example, a small child may want the backboard at a low height while an older and taller child may want it at a higher height such as the regulation height for basketball backboards. Similarly, various utility type poles may present different height requirements. With the standard of this invention using the identical lightweight post members they may be telescopi cally connected together to provide the desired standard height. Only the bottom member is anchored to the ground and the other member telescopically connected thereto is only bolted and may be easily removed. The basketball backboard mounting L-shaped member telescopically engages the top standard member in the same manner that each of the stacked telescopic members engage each other. A flange is provided intermediate the length of the members to provide a stop or rest for the bottom end of the next higher telescopic member. The flange also serves to provide a mounting and anchoring plate for tie wires or rods connected to the basketball backboard or the like. Further, the peripherally arranged flange on the lowest member engages the ground surface and sets a predetermined length for the bottom member to penetrate into the ground. Since the telescopic members are hollow it is convenient to fill at least the bottom member with concrete and thus provide a solid and stable anchoring base for the standard.

These and other features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following description when taken into consideration with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the standard having a basketball backboard mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the telescopic members comprising the standard;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of a series of telescopic members arranged to provide a utility pole for a floodlight;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation view of a modified form of the standard and having a basketball backboard mounted thereon; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the members comprising the standard of FIG. 5.

The extendable standard of this invention is referred to generally in FIG. 1 by the reference numeral 10 and includes a plurality of telescopic sectional members 12 interconnected together in a vertical position. The members 12 are preferably of molded construction and are preferably comprised of a tough plastic material such as ABS (acrylonitrilebutadienestyrene). The sections 12 are identical in shape and construction and include a lower cylindrical portion 14 which has a diameter sufficiently large enough for the lower portion 14 to matingly engage the exterior wall surface of the top portion 16 which has a relatively smaller diameter. An annular flange 18 is positioned between the two sections at their juncture and provides a support and stop for the portion 14 of the member 12 mounted on top thereof.

At least the bottom member 12 as seen in FIG. 1 is filled with concrete 20 and has the bottom cylindrical portion 14inserted into the ground to a depth that the flange 18 engages the top surface 22 of the ground. The concrete 20 provides sufficient ballast to anchor the standard in a stable upright position.

.The sections 12 are locked together by a conventional bolt 24 which extends through the lower portion 14 and the upper adjacent portion 16. The portions 14 and 16 have alined holes 26 and 28 respectively formed therein to receive the bolt 24.

As seen in FIG. 1, a basketball backboard 30 is bolted to the outer end of a straight tubular member portion 32 which is matingly received inside of the outer end of an L-shaped tubular member 34 which telescopically extends over the top portion 16 of the uppermost sectional member 12 and is locked thereto by the bolt 24 in a similar manner as the sectional members 12 are interconnected. The tubular member 32 on the backboard 30 is held tightly against the outer end of the L- shaped member 34 by tie rods 36 extending between the backboard 30 and the annular flange 18. They are connected to the annular flange 18 by bolts-38. Since the tie rods 36 are positioned symmetrically on opposite sides of the L-shaped member 34 they present uniform forces on the backboard 30 to keep it steady and stable. A turnbuckle 40 is provided in the middle of each of the tie rods 36 to provide the desired amount of tension therein.

Preferably, the L-shaped member 34 defines an angle slightly greater than 90 prior to the tightening of the tie rods 36 by means of the turnbuckle 40. Thus, the tightening of the turnbuckle will prestress and strengthen member 34, and adjusting the tension in rods 36 can also be used to make adjustments in the vertical position of the hoop 51.

The standard may be rotated 180 by simply removing one of the bolts 24, rotating the standard, and thence replacing the bolt 24. Such rotation permits the backboard 30 to be rotated out of position when not in use, if desired.

As seen in FIG. 2, the tubular member 32 is provided with a flange 18A similar to the flanges 18 on the members 12 and bolts 48 are connected through the openings 50 to fasten the backboard 30 thereto. The basketball hoop SI is of conventional design and is placed on the flat side of the basketball backboard 30.

As seen in FIG. 4, a plurality of telescopic sectional members 12 are stacked together to provide a utility type pole wherein a floodlight is pivotally connected to the top portion 16 of the top member 12.

It is thus readily seen that any desired length of pole may be obtained by stacking the sections 12, one on top of the other, and the sections may be easily stacked since they are identical in shape and construction. In the utility pole of FIG. 4, the sections may be bolted together if desired as described for the basketball backboard standard shown in FIG. 1.

The modified standard of this invention is referred to generally in FIG. 5 by the reference numeral 62 and includes a plurality of cylindrical-shaped members 64 interconnected together in a vertical position. The members 64 are interconnected by a sleeve 66 embracing the upper end of the lower member 64 and the lower end of the upper member 64 and having a plurality of bolts 68 extending through registering openings formed therein.

As seen in FIG. 5, a basketball backboard 70 is operatively secured to the outer end of an L-shaped member 72 which telescopically extends over the top portion of the uppermost members 64 and is locked thereto by bolts 74 extending therethrough. A basketball hoop 76 of conventional design is secured to the backboard 70 by bolts 78. Tie rods 80 extend between the backboard 70 and the uppermost sleeve 66 and have a turnbuckle 82 provided thereon. The tie rods 80 and turnbuckle 82 function in the same manner and for the same purposes as the rods 36 and turnbuckle 40 in the device seen in FIGS. 1 and 3.

The members 64 and sleeves 66 are preferably of molded construction and are preferably comprised of a tough plastic material such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). If desired, at least the lowermost member 64 may be filled with concrete. The modification of FIGS. 5 and 6 permits the height of the standard to be easily changed by simply adding or removing members 64. The standard may also be rotated by simply removing the bolts 68 in one of the sleeves 66, rotating the member 64, thence replacing the bolts 68. It can also be appreciated that the standard of FIGS. 5 and 6 can be easily and quickly constructed or dismantled due to the design thereof and the lightweight characteristics thereof.

Thus it can be seen that the standards of FIGS. 1 to 4 and 5 to 6 accomplish at least all of their stated objectives.

We claim:

1. In a post device; a standard including a plurality of substantially identically constructed and shaped interconnected members vertically arranged, each of said members including a top and bottom tube section, the top and bottom tube sections having outer diameters such that the top tube section has a smaller outer diameter and matingly fits inside the bottom downwardly extending tube section of an adjacent member, there being an outwardly extending peripheral flange at the juncture of the top and bottom tube sections, the length of the top and bottom tube sections being such that the lower end of the bottom section of a top member engages the top of said flange and said flange thereby supports said top member and limits relative downward movement of said top member with respect to the adjacent lower member: means for anchoring the lowest member to the ground; means interconnecting adjacent members to limit relative rotational movement therebetween; an L-shaped tubular member including a basketball backboard on the outer free end thereof, the opposite, inner, end being matingly received on the upwardly extending top section of the topmost member; a pair of brace rods on opposite sides of said L-shaped member extending from said backboard to the flange of the topmost member; and bolt means connecting said brace rods to said flange.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein a turnbuckle is provided for each brace rod to maintain said brace rods under tension and thereby limit movement of a said backboard.

3. In a .post device: a standard including a plurality of interconnected members vertically arranged; means for anchoring the lowest member to the ground; means interconnecting adjacent members to limit relative rotational movement therebetween; a L-shaped tubular member including a basketball backboard on the outer free end thereof, the opposite, inner, end being operatively secured to the upper end of the uppermost member, said L-shaped member including a first vertical portion and a second portion extending outward and slightly upwardly therefrom; brace rod means extending from the backboard to one of the group consisting of said members and said interconnecting means; and a turnbuckle in said brace rod means to permit the tension in said brace rod means to be increased or decreased thereby lowering or raising the effective height of the backboard. 

